Aeration apparatus and method



Mar. i5, 1929. -F W, SfsERR, JR 1,703,916?

AERATION APPARATUS AND METHOD .v 4Filed May '7, 1926 @unam INVENTOR g MC2-MTM ATTORNEY 5 Patented Mar.. 5, i929.

niTED L STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

ani-inneren w. eraan., Jn., or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANM, assrenoa 'ro THE Kor PERS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- vanta.

Application led May 7,

The present invention relates in general to improvements in aeration of liquids, and more particular-ly liquids containing solid material suspended therein, and has a particular application to the aeration and revivi-A fication of sulphided gas purification liquids, especially such as contain insoluble iron or other compounds in suspension for the purpose of causing the formation of free sulphur as an end product of such aeration.

In such processes, and in fact many others, as for example the aeration of sewage and the like, the requirements and conditions imposed upon aeration means are particularlyv severe, The eiciency of aeration depends to a large extent upon extremely fine ,comminution of the air entering the li uid, and this fact has led to the adoption o various porous media, such asFiltros, earthenware, Wood blocks, fabric blankets, and the like whereby a suitable, fine comminution of the air in adequate volume may be obtained. However, such media are subject, under actual operating conditions, to being clogged' Depo-l and blinded with solid material. sition or crystallization of solids, bacterial growths, etc. in the interstices or on the surface of the fabric of the aerators'may eventu-,

for United States Letters Patent of Gilbert.

E. Seil, Serial No. 21,978, filed April 9,1925, to which reference is hereby expressly made. The Soil aerator consists, briefly, in a-tubular canvas or other fabric body, suspended between a pair of iianges in such manner as to be vibratile under the influence of the air passing through the same. This vibration is induced partlyby the agitation of the liquid and partly by the pulsation of the air pump or blower. The vibratorymotion set up in the said fabric has been found to vkeep the fabric freey from stoppages for extended AERATION APPARATUS AND .METHOD.

Serial No. 107,479.

periods. Thus the Seil aerator represented a distinct advance in the art, and under many Asaid partition being so constructed. as to allow -free axial travel of the same to and fro from one end of the aeration tank to the other,

or a part of this distance. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the actual length ofthe fabric tube is preferably greater than the distance between the ends of the aeration tank, and the said partition is firmly 'fastened around its periphery to the tubular fabric and at about the mid-point of the tube. Thus a movement of the said partition to the left will cause the fabric on that side of the said wall to `be collapsed and folded, and the fabric on the opposite side to be stretched to a point which limits the travel of the division wall, and vice versa.

Furthermore, I provide for the admission of air to the aerator from either end, in such manner as to influence the position and to effect movement of the movable partition, and I further provide means whereby air may be alternately introduced from both said ends, respectively, causing a reciprocal or forwardand-backward motion of the said partition and causing the introduced air 'to pass through the aerator mainly through the stretched portion thereof.

My invention further consists in such other new and useful improvements, and has for further objects such other operative advantages or results, as may be found to obtain in the apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred` form and manner in which Ithe invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting ico the claimed invention specilically to such illustrative instance orinstances:

Fig.l 1 is a vertical sectional elevational view oflan aeration tank wherein is situate an aerator constructed in accordance with the present invent-ion;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevational view of the aerator tube shown in the tank` in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the aerator shown in Figs. 1 and 2i and Fig. l a .fertical cross-section of the same taketi on'the line fle-f1 of Fig. 3.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

In general, the aeration apparatus consists of the aeration `tank or chamber T, sometimes called a Thionizerf7 provided with liquid inlet 1 and outlet 2, or a plurality thereof, or a plurality of such tanks which may then be regarded as compartments of the whole. The said tank T is preferably divided into a plurality of passes by the vertical battles 3, wherein are situate the aerator A., of tubular pliable porous material, or a plurality of such aerators. Air is supplie-d to the said aerators A from the pressure main 4, in the manner which will be described below. The liquid to be aerated is maintained at a suitable depth in the tank or compartment T.

and the attached a i rlhe aerators A are preferably mounted and secured in position adjacent and parallel to the bottom of the tank T by means of the apparatus described and claimed in the copending application of Lloyd Logan, Se-' rial No.-,119,206, tiled J une 28, 1926. Such means comprise the end pieces .5 resting upon the' seat-s G and loosely tting over the guide rods 7 that are equipped with lugs or keys 8 to secure and prevent Vertical displacement of the sai/d end pieces until such time as the ,keys 8 are turned, by revolving the rods 7,.

to a position in line. with the opening between the project-ions or jaws 9 of the said end pieces 5. `When ti 'plis done, the end pieces e1 ator structure are free to rise, being assisted by their own buoyancy and any convenient lifting 'device which is caused to engage the handles 10 thatform the upper extremities'of the hollow vertical air supply pipes 11. immediately below the han- .dles 10 are the lateiras 12, that communicate with the. flexible ahw-enduits 13.

Air entering throughthe said conduits 13, traverses the laterals` 12 and vertical pipes 11 to enter the passages 111 in the end pieces 5, and passes through the plurality of passages 15 in the bushing 16 into tube of the body of the aerator A. The said bushings 16 are preferably screwed into the end pieces 5, and are rigidly fastened to each other by means of the straight rigid spacer rod 17, which determines the length of the aerator A. Upon the said rod 17 is loosely yitted the annular partition itt, which is free to travel along therlength of the rod 17 under the influence 'of the aerating air, butwhich obstructs the passage of air from oneside A to the other side A2.

The porous tubular fabric envelope 19 of canvas, chamois leather or the like, is prefer ablyreof considerably greater length than the d.istance"between the Aflanged portions 2O ot' sometimes be dispensed with entirely, as the place of fastening of partitionlS to the fabric 19 may determine sucl1`travel and thus serve this purpose.

Under the influence of air under pressure introduced into one end only of the aerator A, the partition 18 travels away from that side ofthe aerator until stopped by the length of that portion of the fabric tube 19 adjacent to the inlet side, or by one of the stops 22.

1n the drawings, the partition 18 is shown in the left hand position, having been forcedl there by'air admitted from the right hand side of` the aerator A; the fabric 19 to the right of the partition 18 is stretched to the normal position. and is diffusing air into thc liquid within the tank T,wl1ile the other and left hand portion of the tube 19 has collapsed into folds, which for convenience, are shown rat-lier more regularly than mighty actually be true. The action is thus seen to be somewhat similar to that of an accordion, and the aerator has thus been colloquially designated as an accordion tube. As shown. valve 2t assumed to be closed. and valve 23 is open, compressed air passing into the header which serves a plurality of tanks or compartments T, the sublieader 27, -of which there is preferably one for each end of each compartment T, and flexible airconneetion 13. into the aerators A. By reversing the positions of the valves 23 and 2l'. the air is caused to ent-er the opposite sides of the aerators and 'the active and folded zones of the said aerators are thus reversed. 4 l

Under normal operating conditions. the flow of air to the opposite ends of the aera- 'tors is reversed at convenient intervals. 1nanually or automatically, and thus a reciprocal motion of the piston-like partitions 18 between the non-communicant compartments of the aerators is set up. This may be intermittent -or continuous, as desired. Thus, `While all portions of the tubular fabricbody are, at some vinterval or another, deflated and VVhenit is particularly desired to prevent infiltration of liquid into the collapsed portions ofcftfhe'i'aerators, the air supply to such portions "may be continuedthereto but restricted and reduced to a flow less than the floWof air into the inflated' portions, to any degree, instead of cutting off the said flow entirely.

vMy improved aerator is vibratile even as the aerator described and claimed b Seil above noted are vibratile. and are ad itionally capable of this collapsing action, which I have found to have a very favorable effect tions.

upon the useful life and working performance of the said'aerator cloths. l

In the instance described above; I have shown that the reversal of the air supply may be effected manually, by operating valves 23 and 24 as desired. I may, however, otherwise accomplish such reversal, for example by any simple automatic reversing device adapted to this purpose, which thus renders the operation entirely automatic. I may also provideother means of supporting the tubes in the tank, and for removing the same therefrom, consistent with the operation of my invention.

My invention provides an aerator remarkably free from stOppageS, when used in the aeration of suspensions. sulphided liquids, sewage. and under similarly severe condi- The manipulation thereof is simple and convenient, and results in a more efficient operation of aeration processes of this character. Furthermore, the actual operating costs of aerating and maintaining the aerators in useful service are materially reduced.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in particular form but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim: y

1. A pliable porous fabric aerator divided into two compartments by a movable partition adapted to be reciprocally actuated, said aerator having` au inlet for compressed air at its opposite ends the fabric of each eompartment being adapted to be alternately expanded and folded by the action of compressed air introduced in alternation to the opposite ends of said a-erator. p

2. A pliable porous fabric aerator comprised of two portions separated from each other a movable partition adapted to be reciprocally actuated, said partition causing collapse of said portions in alternation.

3. An aerator as claimed in claim Q. and in whichvthe reciprocal movement of the partition is effected by means of air under pressure introduced to said aerator at opposite sides of said partition in alternation.

t. A method of operating tubular vibratile aerators which consists in: constituting each of said aerators ofv complementary portions and infiating and collapsing the portions in alternation.

5. A method of operating tubular vibratile aerators which consists in: constituting each of said aerators of complementary portions and inliating and collapsingr the portions in .alternation-While preserving a uniform aeration area and lengtlrof the whole.

6. In an aerator for aeratin-g liquids, in combination: a plurality of separate coinpartments each constituted of a tubular pliable porous fabricbodyand means operable for alternately collapsing and infiating any o r all of said compartments while submerged in the liquid being aerated.

7. In an aerator for aerating liquids, `in combination: a pliable, tubular porous fabric; movable means extending transversen ly Within the tubular fabric for ,dividing the chamber within the-,fabric into two portions; and actuating means operable to apply pressure to said movable means to actuate the same reciprocally.

8. Apparatus as claimed in. claim 7, and in which the actuating means is operable' to introduce air in alternation into said portions of the. aerator to effect the reciprocal move- -f-ment of the said movable means.

9. In an aerator for aerating liquids, in combination: a pliable tubular porous fabric; movable impermeable means for dividing the said fabric into two non-communicant portions; said means being mounted to move reeiprocally along the longitudinal axis of 'the aerator under the influence of air intro duced into the said non-communicant por tionsr of'the latter in alternation; and means for so introducing the air.

10.- In combination witha pliable porous fabric aerator: movable means between and connected with portions on two opposite sides thereof and movable therewith; valve controlled means operable to supply air to the portions of the fabric on either side of said movable means and cause a portion of said aerator to collapse while air is diffusing through another portion thereof.

ll. An -aerator for aerating liquids. comprising. in combination: a pair of end Hanges situate opposite each other; a rigid axial member connecting the said flanges: an annular partition of substantially the same diameter as said end fianges and mounted for movement along said rigid member; a pofrous tubular fabric envelope longer, than the said rigid member and tightly fastened at each end to said flanges and similarly fastened between said ends to said movable partition: and'nieans for introducing air to the, opposite ends ofthe said aerator in alternation:y whereby to permit said movable partition to reciprocate along the said rigid mem- .A

her under the iniiileiice ot' air introduced to the said aerator.

l2. A method of diffusing gas as finely comminuted gas consisting in diffusing such gas through an individual compartment con stituted of a porous medium, and, While so doing, defiating another individual compartment constituted of a porous medium.

13. A method of diffusing gas as finely connninuted gas consisting in diiiiusiug such gas through a porous medium and, while doing so, deflating and infiating portions of said medium in alternation with each other.

14. A method of diffusing gas as finely comminuted gas, consisting in: diffusing su .y gas through a porous medium and simultan neously defiating and folding a portion of said medium While iniiating another portion of the saine medium.

15. A method of operating tubular vihiatile porous diffusing members which consists in: diffusing through an inflated portion of said. tube While another portion is deflated, then deflating said infiated portion and infiating and, diffusing through said other portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hande FREDERlCK YV. SFRR-R, JR. 

